ABSTRACT
Single cell suspension culture of highly embryogenic line 47/1/150 M. falcata was initiated. The cell suspension was composed of different types of single cells. Most of the cells were capable to give rise to embryos following asymmetric division. In order to visualise and study this process and cells active and competent for division, transgenic Medicago falcata plants carrying the β-glucoronidase gene (gus A) under the control of the two promoters cdc2aAt and cyc3aAt from cell cycle regulating genes, have been obtained. Cell suspension cultures initiated from controls and transgenic plants were induced following the procedure for direct somatic embryogenesis in liquid medium. The fine fraction of single cells obtained after 15 days following culture initiation was used to investigate the asymmetry of the first cell division. The process of plant regeneration via somatic embryogenesis was characterised from single cell until conversion to plantlets.